Domestic violence opponents remember victims

WEST CHESTER — Victim advocates, family members, and law enforcement officials gathered Tuesday night to remember the victims who have lost their lives to domestic violence and recognize those who have survived.

The event, put on by the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County at the United Methodist Church of West Chester, also recognized the work of prosecutors and law enforcement officials who have taken a stand against domestic violence.

Special recognition was given to Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and Assistant District Attorney Michelle Frei. Officer Rodger Ollis and Interim Chief James Bell of the Coatesville Police Department, and Chief John Slauch of the Oxford Police Department were also honored for their participation in programs that provide assistance to victims in crisis.

“I stand here humbled, because truly I believe those to be honored are the victims and their families,” Ollis said, speaking about the extra efforts that the Coatesville Police Department has taken to combat domestic violence. “If we can save one life, if we can keep children happy at home, if we can make Coatesville or any other jurisdiction a safer place, I want to be part of that.”

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Stephen Fuimano, a close friend of Kimberly Hvizda, who was killed by her estranged husband in a Wawa parking lot in March, spoke about the death of his friend and the experience of raising her three young children.

“Domestic violence doesn’t obviously just affect the person or persons involved, it has a ripple effect that runs through everybody, and I found that out the hard way,” Fuimano said. “I found that out through the love of a friend and through her children.

Fuimano and his wife, Kim, are currently in the process of adopting Hvizda’s three youngest children. Jim Hvizda was sentenced to life in prison in August.

“We’re all affected by this, and we miss Kimberly so much,” Fuimano said. “No matter how much I love the kids, no matter how much the friends, the aunts, the grandfather, the grandmother, no matter how much they do, it will never be the love of a mother. It will never be the love of a father. We just miss her so much, and that’s what I came here to say today.”

Chelsea Melrath, whose aunt, Audra Aston, was killed by her husband in a murder-suicide in 2010, spoke about researching domestic violence with her family after her aunt’s death. What they found was heartbreaking and all too familiar, Melrath said.

One in four women will become victims of domestic violence in their lifetime, Melrath said. That information is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Justice. Melrath said her family discovered individuals who are separated or going through a divorce, like her aunt, are at the greatest risk of intimate partner violence.

“That’s when the guilt started to kick in a little,” Melrath said. “If only we would have known. If only we were educated on the signs that she was being abused. If only we had knew how to safely get her away from her abuser. If only we could have helped.”

Melrath said her family would likely never find the answer to their biggest question: why? But she said that if her family could share their story and educate others about the domestic violence, they may be able to help someone.

“So let’s start talking about domestic violence,” Melrath said. “Let’s start educating people on the warning signs that a loved one is being abused and how to help them. Knowledge is power.”

The Domestic Violence Center operates a shelter, transitional housing, and a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence. Its programs provide information, referrals and support, counseling, children services and legal services.

In addition to a confidential site, it also operates satellite offices in Kennett Square, Oxford, Coatesville and Phoenixville. In 2011 the Domestic Violence Center provided services to over 3,400 Chester County abuse victims and their dependent children.

To contact the 24-hour domestic violence hotline, call 1-888-711-6270. All services are free and confidential.